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(No Model.) 7 V 5 SheetsSheet 1. H. A. HOUSEMAN.

AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MAGHINE. No. 484,737. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. A. HOUSEMAN. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No.- 484,737. Patented 001;. 18 1892.

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WIT/156656 (No Model!) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. A. HOUSEMAN.

AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 484,737. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

H. A. HOUSEMAN. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 484,737. Patented 001;. 18, 1892.

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Patented 001;. 18, 1892.

H. A. HOUSEMAN.

, AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 484,737.

(No Model.)

MTIYEGSES.

n ma: vrraas 0a., PNOYO-LIYHCL, WASHINOYON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY A. HOUSEMAN, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,737, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed September 1, 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY A. HOUSEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

I will now describe a machine in which my improvements are embodied in the preferred form.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of upper portion of the machine with the bed removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line 0300, Fig. 2. Figetis an end view of the machine. Fig. 5 is a sectional viewof the needle-cylinder on line y 1 Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view showing operation of needle-operating cam.

A is the needle-cylinder, in which are the needles a a, &c.

B is the knitting-cylinder carrying the needle-operating cams, as in the ordinary-machine.

O is the driving-pulley.

c is the main driving-shaft.

c is a bevel-gear loose on the main driving-shaft and engaging the rack c on the knitting-cylinder.

D is a clutch feathered on the main driving-shaft.

c c are lugs on the hub of the bevel-gear c, and the clutch D is adapted to engage said lugs c 0 so that when said clutch is in engagement with the bevel-gear c the cam-cylinder is rotated.

In making the heel and toe of a stocking the cam-cylinder, in place of being rotated,is reciprocated, and this is accomplished in the following manner:

Upon the main driving-shaft c is the gearwheel E, which works in the gear e.

F is a link which connects the gear'wheele with segmental gear f, pivoted at f which meshes in gear f upon shaft f Upon the other end of this shaft f -is the clutch G, adapted to engage with the lugs g 9' upon gear-wheel 9 the gear-wheel 9 working in Serial No. 404,459. (No model.)

gear-wheel g which is keyed to the hub of bevel gear-wheel 0', so that they revolve together.

H is a clutch-lever, pivoted at h and having forked ends which encircle the clutches G and D, and, as may be readily seen, the construction and arrangement is such that when it is operated it throws one clutch into connection and the other clutch out of connection. This lever H is operated in the follow- 1ng manner:

I is a connecting-rod, one end being connected to clutch-lever H, the other end to link 1), to which it is pivoted. The other end of the link is pivoted to standard 71. Supported from the frame of the machine upon this link i is the inclined projecting-lug W.

J is a sprocket-wheel, upon which travels the sprocket-chain 3'. This sprocket-wheel is driven in the following manner: Upon the shaft of the sprocket-wheel J is the wormwheel J, driven by the worm J the worm J being on the same shaft as the gear-wheel J which is driven by the gear-wheel J upon the main driving-shaft. The sprocket-wheel is thus continuously driven, carrying around it the sprocket-chain. The position of the clutch H at the commencement of knitting is such that the clutch D is in engagement with the bevel-gear c and the knitting-cylinder is rotated. Upon the sprocket-chain j is lu'g 7c,

which in its line of travel strikes the lug A moving the connecting-rod I on its pivotpoint so as to force the clutch G into connection with gear-wheel g and the clutch out of engagement with the bevel-gear c, which causes the bevel-gear to reciprocate, thus reciprocating the knitting cylinder. The clutch G is held in this position by the notched bar K, supporting the projecting end 70 of connecting-rod I. The clutch G is held in connection with gear-wheel g until thelug Zupon the sprocket-chain trips the bar K, when the spring L, which was put in tension by the movement of rod I, throwing clutch G into connection with wheel 9 returns the rod I, releasing clutch G and throwing clutch D into action, when the cylinder is again rotated. When the machine is first operated, forming the leg of the stocking, the cam-cylinder is rotated continuously and the sprocket-chain is carried around the sprocket-wheel, but slowly, by the mechanism used, and the lug 7c is placed in such a position upon the chain that it strikes the lug i at the point where theheel and toe are to be formed, and the lugl is in such position as to trip ofi the'bar K when the heel and toe have been formed.

In forming the heel and toe, as is well known, half of the needles are thrown out of action. 1 accomplish this in the following. manner: The needles (1 a 0. &c., rest in slots in the knitting-cylinder, and the shanks of each needle are inclosed in the jaws of the needle-levers M M M 820., each lever being pivoted and having a tail-piece. The tailpieces of the levers M M M to M of the needles a a a to 0., which are to be thrown out of action simultaneously when the heel and toe are to be knitted, rest in a groove in the'plate N.v This plate N has the pins on, which are connected to forked rods n n, whichforked rods are secured on the shaft 0. On the shaft 0 is the lever X.

0 is a stand, which is connected to the connecting-rod I. mm are set-screws, which pass through said stand in line with thelever'X, so that when rod I is moved from left'to right the set-screw a: strikes the lever X, rocking the shaft 0 and moving the plate N, elevating.

the end of. the leversm m to m forcing in the corresponding needles out of action of the, knitting-cylinder. As before described; at-the.

end of knittingthe heel or toe the othersetscrew 0; rocks the shaft in the other direction,

depressing the lever and again bringing the. The mouth or jaw of.

needles into action. each of the levers has the inset y, which supports the needle when forced in outof action. In knitting. the heel and toe the remainder of the needles are used in formingtheheel and toe,.and one from each side is thrown out of action at each reciprocation of the knitting: cylinder until the goods are narrowed down sufiiciently. Then one from eachside is thrown into actionuntil theheel or toe is complete. These-needles thrown out of action in narrowing and into action in widening. are called fashioning-needles. I accomplish this in the following manner:

a' to a are the needles used in formingthe heel and toe, although, of course, their num ber may be varied, as desired. Each of these needles is inclosed in the jawsof' a pivoted lever M to M. (See Figs. 5 and 6.)

P P" are the fashioning-needle operating cams; which cams are carried by the rockplates I P The form of thecam isshown in detail in Fig. 7.

Q Qf are two double pawls, one for each rock-plate, pivoted to supports (1 q andacted upon by the springs (1 The supports q q" are connected one ateach endof the pivoted rod R.

S is ,a link, one end pivoted to rod R, the

other end to arm 8. The arm 8 is connected outer and one at the inner end of lever T, and corresponding lugs 25 t are upon the gearwheel 9 When the clutch G is thrown into engagement with the gear-wheel 9 the lugs 15 t are brought into the line of travel of the lugs t t, and, as the gear=wheelreciprocates, the lugs t t are alternately struck and the lever T vibrated first in one direction and then in the other and the pivotedrod R vibrated on its pivot-point, operating upon first one pawl and then the other, the return movement drawing one pawl and then the other back to engage the next tooth. As before described, the ends of levers M to M are in the line of travel of the cams, and as the cams strike them it lifts up the end, forcingthe needles in out of action.

The left hand of Fig. 5 shows the needle before action by the cam and the right hand after action by the cam.- The cams act upon first one needle, the'n thenext, until the last tooth is reached, when the projections v v" on each cam strike the pins 0 11 which turns the pawl, so that its other end becomes active and-farther movement reverses the rack, depressing one by one on'each side the ends of the levers M to M bringing the needles-forward andinto action one by one until the lasttooth in the racks is reached, when the pins 42 again turn the pawls. When the rod I is released and the clutch G thrown out of action,

the lugs 25 t are draw'nout of lineofthe lugs 15 15". Upon the plate of the machine are sea cured the guards 'w w and set-screws w w pass through the rod B, so that the throw of th'erodR may Delimited. The jaws ofi the levers M to M have each an'inset or shoulder g, which supports the needleswhen drawn in out of action.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Theclutch Dbeing in connection with the bevel-gear c and power being applied to pulley O, the knitting-cylinder is rotated to form the tubular fabric-say for the leg-the sprocket chain moving on the sprocketwheel.

ment with gear g and clutch D out of engagement withbevel-gear c and the knitting-cylinder is reciprocated. The shifting of therod l having, by mechanism fully described,-.

thrown half of the needles out of action, while the cylinder is reciprocated by the mechanism described, one needle alternately on each side of the active needles is thrownoutof action until the desired number are so latch is tripped soas to releasegthe rod I, the clutch D is again thrown into action and the knitting-cylinder again revolved, formingf tubular fabric.

When the lug. on the sprocket-chain. strikes the projection, which isadjusted to occur when the amount of tubular goods desired has been formed, the rod I is forced forward, moving the clutch G into-engage+- Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a main driving-shaft, a segmental gear, intermediate connection, substantially as described, between said shaft and segmental gear, a shaft adapted to oscillate, a clutch upon said shaft, a gear-wheel, a clutch-lever adapted to operate said clutch, a connectingrod, as I, a sprocket-wheel, intermediate connection between said wheel and the drivingshaft, a sprocket-chain upon said wheel, and lu s upon said sprocket-chain adapted to act upon said rod and force said clutch into engagement with said. gear-wheel.

2. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a main driving-shaft, a segmental gear, intermediate connection, substantially as described, between said shaft and segmental gear, a shaft adapted to oscillate, a clutch upon said shaft, a gear-wheel, a clutch-lever adapted to operate said clutch, a connectingrod, as I, a sprocket-wheel, intermediate connection between said wheel and the drivingshaft, a sprocket-chain upon said wheel, a lug upon said sprocket-chain adapted to act upon said rod and force said clutch into engagement with said gear-wheel, and means to retain said rod in posi'tion'after being acted upon by the lu 3. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a main driving-shaft, a segmental gear, intermediate connection, substantially as described, between said shaft and segmental gear, a shaft adapted to oscillate, a clutch upon said shaft, a gear-wheel, a clutch-lever adapted to operate said clutch, a connectingrod, as I, a sprocket-wheel, intermediate connection between said wheel and the drivingshaft, a sprocket-chain upon said wheel, lugs upon said sprocket-chain adapted to act upon said rod and force said clutch into engagement with said gear-wheel, means to retain said rod in position after being acted upon by the lug, and means, substantially as described, to release said rod. I

4. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a main driving-shaft, a clutch, as D, upon said shaft, a bevel-gear adapted to be connected with said clutch, a knitting-cylinder, a rack upon said cylinder operated by said bevelgear, a segmental gear, intermediate connection between the shaft and the segmental gear, a shaft adapted to oscillate, intermediate connection between said shaft and the segmental gear, a clutch, as G, upon said shaft, a gear-wheel, as 9 adapted to be connected with said clutch, and intermediate connection between said gear and the bevelgear, a clutch-lever pivoted in the center and adapted to operate upon both of said clutches, and mechanism, substantially as described, to operate said lever, whereby when one clutch is thrown into action the other is re:

leased.

5. In a knitting-machine, in combination,

a main driving-shaft, a clutch, as D, upon said shaft, a bevel-gear adapted to be connected with said clutch, a knitting-cylinder, a rack said clutch, and intermediate connection between said gear and the bevel-gear, a clutchlever pivoted in the center and adapted to operate upon both of said clutches, a sprocketwheel, means to rotate said wheel, a sprocketchain' carried by said wheel, a connecting-' rod connected to said clutch-lever, a lug connected to said connecting-rod, and a. lug on the sprocket-chain in line with said lug connected to the connecting-rod, whereby when the lug is struck the connecting-rod is moved and clutch G engaged and clutch D disengaged, and means to retain and to release said connecting-rod I.

6. Ina knitting-machine, in combination, a main driving-shaft, a clutch, as D, upon said shaft, a bevel-gear adapted to be connected with said clutch, a knitting-cylinder, a rack upon said cylinder operated by said bevelgear, a segmental gear, intermediate connecnection between the shaft and segmental gear, a shaft adapted to oscillate, intermediate connection between said shaft and the segmental gear, a clutch, as G, upon said shaft, a gear-wheel, as g adapted to beconnected with said clutch, and intermediate connection between said gear and the bevelgear, a clutch-lever pivoted in the center and adapted to operate upon both said clutches, a sprocket-wheel, means to rotate said wheel, a sprocket-chain carried by said wheel, a

connecting-rod connected to said clutch-lever,

a lug connected to said connecting-rod, and a lug on the sprocket-chain in line with said lug connected to the connecting-rod, whereby when the lug is struck the connecting-rod is moved and clutch G engaged and clutch D disengaged, a notch-rest adapted to secure one end of connecting-rod, and a lug on the sprocket-chain in line with the said notch-rest.

7. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cylinder, needles sliding in grooves therein, a circular cam outside of the cylinder, and angular needleshifting levers pivoted between the cam and cylinder, the horizontal outer portions of the levers engaging and being oscillated in a direction lengthwise of the needles by the cam and the inner vertical portions having jaws to receive the butt-ends of the needles, substantially as described.

8. In a knitting-machine, the combination of a cylinder, needles sliding in grooves therein, a circular cam outside of the cylinder, angular needleshifting levers pivoted between the cam and cylinder, and connections between the levers and the needles, the outer horizontal portions of the lovers being 'en- ICO gaged and oscillated by the cam in a direction lengthwise of the needles and the-inner vertical portions oscillating: in a direction in said slots, [pivoted levers provided with: j aws adapted to hold the: shanks off said nee-i dies, a 'plate =upon'w-hich the tailsrofi' said. levers-correspon dingrto the needles in the front half I of saidneedle-cy-linder-' rest, and means, substantially as described, .to; elevate: said plate;

11; In a knitting-machine,-in conibination,a a needle-cylinder provided with slots, needles in said slots, pivoted? levers provided with jaws-adapted to lioldithefshanks 0t said needles aiplate upon which; the-tails of; saidle vers= corresponding to the needlesiinrthefrontt half ot said needle-cylinder: rest, pins con nected to-saidplate, ,a. roek-shaftand inter-- mediate: connection between said." shaftand said; pins, and means; substantially as de-- scribed, to operate. saidshatawhen' themeans:

for' imparting: reciprocating, motion. to the:

knitting-cylinder is thrown intoqaction.

l2. In-aknitti-ng-machine, intcombination,

a-needle-cylinder provided withslotsnccdlesin. said slots, pivoted levers provided with jawsadapted-to hold thezshan-ksof saidrneedles,na=plateupon which theta-ils-ofi said le-- verscorresponding to the needles inzthe front half of: said needle-cylinder rest, pins GOD?" nected tousaid plate, arock=shafta-nd intermediater connection between said rock-shaft and saidpins, the clutch connectingwod I,- mechanism, substantially as described, to; ops I crate said .rod, and intermediatemconnection' between said rod and, the rock-shaft, whereby whcnthe rod ismoved the rockshaftiis rocked.

13. Inaknitting-maohina'incombination, a needle-cylinder provided with slots, needles in said slots, pivoted levers-:provided with jaws adapted tohold theshanksof said nee-- dles, a plate upon which the tailsof said leverscorresponding to the needlesin the front. half, of said needle-cylinder rest, pins connected to said plate, a rockshaftand intermediate connection between said rock-shaft and said pins, the clutch connecting-rod I, mechanism, substantially as.-described, to op erate said, rod, a lever on: said rock-shaft, a stand connected to said; connecting-rod, and set-screws passing through said stand,one. on

each sideof'said lever in line with saidlever,

whereby when: said rod is operated one of said screws strikes said shaft to roekitr 14. In a circular-knittingmachine, incombination, a knitting-"cylinder, a rack on said cylinder, a gear-wheel-adaptedto operate said rack, a main driving-shaft, a clutch .upon said shaft adapted-to be connected with said gearwheel, an oscillating. shaft; a clutchnpon said shaft, a gear-wheel adapted to be engagediby' saidclutch, connection between said gear and the knitting-cylinder-rack gear-wheel, a

clutch lever common to bot-h clutches, and

means, substantially as described, to operate said-r clutch-lever, wherebyone clutch is released and the other i brought into action.

l5.- In acircnlar-knittingmachine, in combination, admitting-cylinder, a rack. on said cylindenagear-wheel adapted-to operate said i i rack, a main dri ving-shafinaclutch upon said shattadapteditorbe connected with saidgearwheel,- an, oscillating; shaft; aiclntch upon said shathza gearawhee'l adapted toibe; engagedfby saidrelntch, connection: between said gear:-

wheel and thes'kinittingg -cylinderrrack gear-' wheel,-a clutch-lever'commontoiboth clutch es,

a. connecting rod connected to" said ClllltCh" lever, azlngzconnectedetosaidtconnecting-rod, asprocket-wheel, a sprockehchain driven by said sprocket-wheelmnds a log upon said connected to the con'nectingerod.

16. In aci-rcnlar-knitting, machine; in -combination, at knittingreylinder, a rack: on: said cylinder, a gear-wheel adapted to operate said it rack, a maindrivineg-strait,aolntch upon said shaft adaptedto-beconnected with said gearwheel, an oscillatingsshatt; aclntch. upon said shaft; iatgeari-wheel adapted to be engagedby said-r clutch; connection between: said gear wheel and; the; knitting-cylinderrackgearwheel, a clutch-lever common to both cl utchcs,

a connectingerodr connected; to said clutchlever,v a lug; connected: to said connecting-rod,

aisprocketswheel, ,asprocket-chain driven .by: said sprocketfwheel, alngnpon said sprocketchainin line. of! travel ofi, saidlugt connected lto tllBmI'Od, andimeansito-lock said rodwhen gmcved by therlugs'strihing. 17. In acireularrknitting machine, inwcom ibination, a knitting-cylinder, a. rack: onsaid icy-linder, ageart-wheel adapted tobperate said irack, amain-drivingrshafha clutch upon said ;shaft.adaptedlto. beoonnected with said gearfwheehan oscillatingjsliaft, a clutch -upon said jshafitta gear-wheel adaptedtobe engaged by ,said clutch, connection between said gear- ;wheeland the, knitting-cylinder-rack gear- ;wheel, a clntch-lev-er'common to both clutches,

1a connecting-rod connectedto said clutch-lever, a sprocket -wheel, ,a sprocket-chain driven by saidsprockevwhee], a lugnpon said sprockets chain in line of travelof said lug connected to therod, means .tolock said rod when moved by the lugsstriking,,andmeans, substantially as described, to releasesaid rod.

jaws adapted to hold'the shanks-of said neelug connected to said connecting-rod, a,

18. In aiknitting-machine, in combination, a-needle-cylinder provided with slots, needles in said slots, pivoted levers provided:with" dles, needle-shifting cams in line of travel of the tails of said levers, a needle-cylinder mechanism, substantially as described, to reciprocate said knitting-cylinder, and intermediate connection between said cams and needle-cylinder-reciprocating motor.

19. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder provided with slots, needles in said slots, pivoted levers provided with jaws adapted to hold the shanks of said needles, needle-shifting cams in line of travel of the tails of said levers, racks by which said cams are carried, pivoted pawls adapted to work in said racks, a pivoted lever to which said pawls are connected, a main drivingshaft, a clutch upon said shaft, a reciprocat ing shaft, a clutch upon said shaft, a clutchlever common to both clutches, a lever pivoted to said clutch-lever, connection between said pi oted lever and lever pivoted to clutchlcver, lugs upon the lever pivoted to clutchlever, a gear-Wheel adapted to be connected with the clutch on the reciprocating shaft, and lugs upon said gear-wheel in line with said lugs on the lever pivoted to clutch-lever when said clutch is in connection with the gearwheel but out of line when said clutch is out of connection with said gear-wheel.

20. In a knitting-machine, in combination, a needle-cylinder provided with slots, needles in said slots, pivoted levers provided with jaws adapted to hold the shanks of said needles, needle-shifting cams in line of travel of the tails of said levers, racks by which said cams are carried, pivoted pawls adapted to work in said racks, a pivoted lever to which said pawls are connected, a main drivingshaft, a clutch upon said shaft, a reciprocating shaft, a clutch upon said shaft, a clutchlever common to both clutches, a lever pivoted to said clutch-lever, connection between said pivoted lever and lever pivoted to clutchlever, lugs upon the lever pivoted to the clutch-lever, a gear-Wheel adapted to be connected with the clutch on the reciprocating shaft, lugs upon said gear-wheel in line with said lugs on the lever pivoted to the clutchlever when the clutch is in connection with the gear-wheel but out of line when said clutch is out of connection with said gearwheel, and guards to limit the movement ofv said pivoted lever.

21. In combination, a knitting-cylinder, a rotary shaft, a clutch on said shaft, an oscillating shaft, a clutch on said shaft, a gearwheel adapted to be engaged by the clutch on the rotary shaft, and a gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the oscillating shaft-clutch, connection between said gear wheels and knitting-cylinder, a clutch-lever common to both clutches, and means, substantially as described, to operate said clutch-lever, whereby one clutch is released and the other brought into action.

In testimony of which invention I have 

